Controlled Epidemiological Studies

The book covers classic epidemiological designs, such as case-control, case-cohort, nested case-control, and stratified and two-stage designs, and presents a unified view of these sampling designs as representations of an underlying cohort or target population. It also covers self-controlled designs, the test-negative design for vaccine studies, and the use of negative controls for bias assessment. It is intended for graduate students in biostatistics, epidemiology, and related disciplines, or for health researchers and data analysts interested in extending their knowledge of study design and data analysis skills.

Format: Hardback
Length: 440 pages
Publication date: 26 May 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive text delves into the realm of classic epidemiological designs, encompassing a range of approaches that utilize a reference or control group. These designs include case-control, case-cohort, nested case-control, and variations such as stratified and two-stage designs. By presenting a unified perspective, the book showcases these sampling strategies as representations of an underlying cohort or target population of interest. This framework enables the exploration and analysis of various extended designs, including extreme sampling on the outcome or exposure, designs that re-use prior controls, augmentation sampling designs, and more. Furthermore, the text extends the scope by leveraging aggregate data for efficient cluster sampling, accommodating time-varying exposures, and combining matched and unmatched controls. Self-controlled designs, such as case-crossover, self-controlled case series, and exposure-crossover, are also explored. Additionally, the book introduces the test-negative design for vaccine studies and discusses the use of negative controls for bias assessment.

Designed with graduate students in biostatistics, epidemiology, and related fields in mind, this book serves as a valuable resource for health researchers and data analysts seeking to expand their knowledge and proficiency in study design and data analysis techniques. It bridges the gap between epidemiology and the more mathematically oriented biostatistics books, consolidating a wealth of epidemiological knowledge about observational study designs that has been dispersed across numerous scientific publications over several decades. The book not only illustrates the performance of methods in real research applications but also provides practical guidelines for their implementation in widely used software packages like Stata and R.

Packed with numerous exercises, ranging from simple mathematical proofs to considerations of probability distributions, this text equips readers with the skills necessary to apply these design principles effectively. Whether you are a novice or an experienced researcher, this book will be an invaluable companion on your journey to understanding and applying advanced epidemiological designs in your work.

Weight: 810g
Dimension: 162 x 241 x 31 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367186784